Kate Ritchie

Infobox actor


imagesize = 150px
caption =
name = Kate Ritchie
birthname = Kate Ritchie
birthdate = birth date and age|1978|08|14
location = Goulburn, New South Wales, Australia
deathdate =
deathplace =
othername =
yearsactive = 1986—present
Current Televison Show = "Australian Idol" (2008-present)
website =

Kate Ritchie (born August 14 1978 in Goulburn, New South Wales [ [http://seven.com.au/homeandaway/meetthecast_kate-ritchie Kate Ritchie official biography] , Meet the Cast, Seven Network] ) is a multiple Gold Logie Award winning Australian actress, best known for her long-running role as Sally Fletcher on the television soap opera "Home and Away". She played the character for 20 years from 1988-2008. Prior to her retirement from the role, she shared the record (recognised by Guinness World Records) for the longest continuous role in an Australian drama series, with fellow original cast member Ray Meagher. [Yeaman, Simon, "Kate and Bay belong together", "The Advertiser", 2 July, 2005]

Family and schooling

Ritchie's parents are Heather and Steve, and she has three younger siblings - Rebecca, Stuart and Susan.cite news | date = October 29 2005 | title = Star Watch - Kate Ritchie | work = Herald Sun | accessdate = 2008-07-31] Ritchie attended Campbelltown North Public School Ritchie also went to Hurlstone Agricultural High School - the latter a New South Wales agricultural and selective school.cite news | date = May 9 2006 | title = Briefly - Kate gonged | work = Macarthur Chronicle (Sydney, Australia) | accessdate = 2008-07-31]

Career

In addition to 20 years on "Home and Away", Ritchie has appeared in commercials, a mini-series and an Australian film. She has also been involved with the Campbelltown Musical Society. ["Accolade for our `iconic' Ritchie", "Macarthur Chronicle", 16 May, 2006]

;1986She was cast as Molly, the child lead in the 1986 Nine Network-PBL mini-series, "Cyclone Tracy", starring Chris Haywood and Tracy Mann.cite web | title = Cyclone Tracy | work = IMDB | url = http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0316973/ | accessdate = 2008-08-01 ]

;1987Ritchie started working with "Home and Away" in 1987, at age 8. Production began in July 1987 (shortly before her 9th birthday) and it premiered on the Seven Network on 17 January 1988.fact|date = August 2008

;2006Ritchie played "Nicole" in the ABC film "Stepfather of the Bride". [ [http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,21092791-5006343,00.html Home sweet home] , "Sunday Mail", 21 January, 2007]

Whilst in the United Kingdom with Mark Furze and Jodi Gordon, Ritchie appeared on "The Friday Night Project" and "Loose Women", and appeared on interviews for Five and Five life.fact | date = July 2008

She was also a contestant on the celebrity singing competition "It Takes Two", partnered with Troy Cassar-Daley. The pair placed fourth in the competition. ["Days just keep getting brighter", "Hobart Mercury", 9 November, 2006]

;2007Ritchie joined Nova radio to co-host the drive show with comedian Akmal Saleh, replacing Matthew Newton. [Mitchell, Glenn, [http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,21113603-2902,00.html "Kate Ritchie's taken over"] , "Herald Sun", 25 January, 2007] She was replaced in May by New Zealand comedian Cal Wilson.cite news | last = Javes | first = Sue | title = Fourth time lucky - Radio | work = Sydney Morning Herald | date = August 6 2007 | accessdate=2008-08-22]

Ritchie co-hosted, with Grant Denyer, the second series of "It Takes Two". [http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/story/0,23663,21615231-10388,00.html "It takes two and Kate's happy"] , "The Daily Telegraph", April 25, 2007]

In September 2007, Ritchie announced that she would be leaving "Home and Away" in mid-December. [ [http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/story/0,23663,22484465-10229,00.html Kate Ritchie quits Home And Away | NEWS.com.au Entertainment ] ] Her final scenes were filmed on December 13 2007cite news | date = December 14 2007 | title = Final scene for Kate after 20 years at Home | work = Daily Telegraph | accessdate = 2008-07-31] and she last appeared on Australian screens as Sally Fletcher on April 3 2008. Her UK demise with the same episode, was not long after the Australian with her departure being screened on UK terrestrial television on May 12 2008 cite news | date = April 3 2008 | title = Kate's summer comes to an end | work = The Advertiser | accessdate = 2008-07-31]

;2008On January 14 2008, Ritchie began work on the Nova 96.9 breakfast show with Merrick and Rosso.cite news | date = January 15 2008 | title = New voices in on-air battle | work = Daily Telegraph | accessdate = 2008-07-31]

Personal life

In 2000, an explicit sex tape widely reported as featuring Ritchie and an ex-boyfriend was published on the internet. She has never publicly discussed the matter. [ [http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,21514118-5006013,00.html Celebrity sex tapes | The Daily Telegraph ] ]

For a time during 2007, Ritchie was dating pro-skateboarder Corbin Harris, who was 4 years her junior. [ [http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,21620894-28957,00.html "Ritchie rich in work and love"] , "Herald Sun", April 26, 2007] They had met in February 2007 at castmate Ada Nicodemou's wedding to Chrys Xipolitas. She previously was involved in a long-term relationship with rugby league footballer Chris Walker. Ritchie is now dating rugby league player, Stuart Webb, who plays for the St George Illawara Dragons. [ [http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/story/0,23663,21651220-10388,00.html Skater boy two times Ritchie | NEWS.com.au Entertainment ] ]

Television roles (synopsis)

Awards

Logie awards

In 2006, Ritchie won the Silver Logie for Most Popular Actress at the 2006 TV Week Logie Awards. She was also nominated for the Gold Logie for Most Popular Personality on Australian Television, but lost to "Blue Heelers" actor John Wood. [Murdoch, Alex, "Logies play favourites - Sentiment rules on television's big night", "The Courier Mail", May 8, 2006 ] cite web | title = Logie Awards 2006 | work = IMDB | url = http://www.imdb.com/Sections/Awards/Logie_Awards/2006 | accessdate = 2008-07-30 ]

In 2007, Ritchie was nominated for and won the Gold Logie for Most Popular Personality on Australian Television as well as her second Silver Logie for Most Popular Actress.cite web | title = Logie Awards 2007 | work = IMDB | url = http://www.imdb.com/Sections/Awards/Logie_Awards/2007 | accessdate = 2008-07-30 ]

In 2008, Ritchie again took the Gold Logie and the Silver for Most Popular Actress at the Logie Awards, achieving back-to-back Golds and three years in a row as Most Popular Actress.cite web | title = Logie Awards 2008 | work = IMDB | url = http://www.imdb.com/Sections/Awards/Logie_Awards/2008 | accessdate = 2008-07-30 ]

Footnotes

External links

* [http://seven.com.au/homeandaway/meetthecast_kate-ritchie Kate Ritchie's profile at "homeandaway.com.au"]
* [http://au.yahoo.com/it-takes-two/ It Takes Two official website]
* [http://nova969.com.au/site/shows/merrick_rosso.aspx Merrick and Rosso on "Nova 969"]
* [http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/up/player/popup/?rn=240896&cl=5254147&ch=&src=y7tv Sally and Milco video]
*
* [http://www.freehandtv.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=18&Itemid=32 Freehand - Kate's Management ]
* [http://kate-ritchie.com/ Kate Ritchie Online]